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    Please do not make requests for copies of radio programming software which is sold (or was sold) by the manufacturer for any monetary value. All requests will be deleted and a forum infraction issued. Making a request such as this is attempting to engage in software piracy and this forum cannot be involved or associated with this activity. The same goes for any private transaction via Private Message. Even if you attempt to engage in this activity in PM's we will still enforce the forum rules. Your PM's are not private and the administration has the right to read them if there's a hint to criminal activity.

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    To obtain Motorola software see the Sticky in the Motorola forum.

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    For M/A Com/Harris/GE, etc: there are two software packages that program all current and past radios. One package is for conventional programming and the other for trunked programming. The trunked package is in upwards of $2,500. The conventional package is more reasonable though is still several hundred dollars. The benefit is you do not need multiple versions for each radio (unlike Motorola).

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Baofeng Got a BTech UV-50X2 for Christmas

lbpd16

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Got this for Christmas today. Despite having my General license I have not had the time to do anything with my licenses.

I think it’s a 2m/70cm radio. I would like to set it up on a desk in my garage. I need help on how to program it. A power supply suggestion for it. And an antenna suggestion for it. Not sure if I need any other cables etc.

Thanks for any suggestions
 

vagrant

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$166 Samlex 1223 Power Supply
$142 Diamond X200A Antenna - Mount it above your roofline.
LMR-400 Coaxial Cable cost will depend on length. Buy the length you need with the connectors on it.
UV-50X2 User Manual
UV-50X2 Software or Chirp Software

Alternatively:

There are probably less expensive power supplies, but ensure it will handle 20 amps, although your radio may not draw that much. A switching power supply will cost less than a linear power supply. A switching power supply will also save on electricity. If you have a 12v battery laying around, connect the radio directly to the battery. A trickle charger will keep it topped up.

If you want to save some money, you might be able to use a magnet mount VHF/UHF antenna for $50. This will include the coax and you could place the antenna on a metal surface to give it a ground plane (19" radius from the center. More will help, less will hurt). You could also use it on your vehicle should you desire. While it is definitely not the best for simplex, it may work fine for monitoring and talking on the repeaters in your area. Just program in your local repeaters and let it scan. Again, should you decide to get more involved $$$ you can use the mobile antenna on the vehicle if you purchase an antenna to put above the roofline at home.

Also, avoid blasting 50 watts and start out with just 5 watts. It may be enough to hit the repeaters and you don't need that RF blasting into your noggin. Raise the antenna up into your rafters, on a ground plane, in your garage.

Have fun.
 

lbpd16

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Thanks so much for all that info.

I did a little more reading on my mobile. They made a couple of their own recommendations: Nagoya UT 72 antenna, Btech PC04 programming cable and Btech RPS 30M power supply. Thoughts on their recommendations or are they only pumping their own products?
 

mmckenna

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Thoughts on their recommendations or are they only pumping their own products?

Pumping their own products.

Consider the long term….
If you are serious about the hobby, get good stuff. Your antenna is the most important part of your station, so going cheap there will always be a limitation. Get a good antenna and good coax, and you'll not be disappointed. You said you wanted to set this up as a base in your garage, but then you mentioned a magnetic mount mobile antenna? You'll be happier in the long run with a good base antenna.

As for their power supply, never used one, never will, but get a good one. Baofeng is low tier equipment. Might be fine for hobby use, but eventually you'll want better.
 

lbpd16

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$166 Samlex 1223 Power Supply
$142 Diamond X200A Antenna - Mount it above your roofline.
LMR-400 Coaxial Cable cost will depend on length. Buy the length you need with the connectors on it.
UV-50X2 User Manual
UV-50X2 Software or Chirp Software

Alternatively:

There are probably less expensive power supplies, but ensure it will handle 20 amps, although your radio may not draw that much. A switching power supply will cost less than a linear power supply. A switching power supply will also save on electricity. If you have a 12v battery laying around, connect the radio directly to the battery. A trickle charger will keep it topped up.

If you want to save some money, you might be able to use a magnet mount VHF/UHF antenna for $50. This will include the coax and you could place the antenna on a metal surface to give it a ground plane (19" radius from the center. More will help, less will hurt). You could also use it on your vehicle should you desire. While it is definitely not the best for simplex, it may work fine for monitoring and talking on the repeaters in your area. Just program in your local repeaters and let it scan. Again, should you decide to get more involved $$$ you can use the mobile antenna on the vehicle if you purchase an antenna to put above the roofline at home.

Also, avoid blasting 50 watts and start out with just 5 watts. It may be enough to hit the repeaters and you don't need that RF blasting into your noggin. Raise the antenna up into your rafters, on a ground plane, in your garage.

Have fun.

I forgot to mention I live in a HOA. The only thing allowed is a Directv dish so an antenna on my roof is not possible.
 

vagrant

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A Diamond X50A might fit up in your garage rafters/attic. Just keep it away from any metal, or wired ducting. Normally it would go above your roof. The X50A will provide improved gain on TX/RX over a Diamond magnet mount. Also, you won‘t need to worry about a ground plane. At least your coaxial cable run/cost will not be much.
 

lbpd16

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Ok. I’ve decided to go with the Samlex SEC-1223 power supply. I would assume this will power my BTech mobile now as well as a HF mobile in the future? Not both at the same time though.

As I’m not sure yet about a roof type antenna with my HOA issues I’m going with the Diamond MR77 which was also recommended. I can use it in the car and figure a way to use it with my garage desktop setup.

Looks like my last thing I need to get powered up and listening is to program the radio. I understand a cable is needed for that. I also understand that software is also needed. The BTech manual mentioned their PC04 cable. They have their own software and I guess Chirp is also supposed to be popular and not so difficult to use. Do I go that route or is there a better quality cable and software to use.
 

lbpd16

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A Diamond X50A might fit up in your garage rafters/attic. Just keep it away from any metal, or wired ducting. Normally it would go above your roof. The X50A will provide improved gain on TX/RX over a Diamond magnet mount. Also, you won‘t need to worry about a ground plane. At least your coaxial cable run/cost will not be much.
The X50A may fit. I would have to measure. Due to new construction requirements from 2017 the inside of my attic above the house was spray foam insulated and the ac unit is there also (large metal unit).

Now above my garage may work. No insulation was required so it’s just a normal non insulated shingle roof. I do have a bunch of crap stored so I would have to make some room.

Does it come with a base of some sort?

I just looked at Gigaparts, DX Engineering and Ham Radio Outlet. Seems the X50A is on back order at all 3. Boooooo. Anywhere else I may look?


Thanks for all the help. I’m sure I’ll have many more questions as I go along. Looking forward to getting powered up
 

lbpd16

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A Diamond X50A might fit up in your garage rafters/attic. Just keep it away from any metal, or wired ducting. Normally it would go above your roof. The X50A will provide improved gain on TX/RX over a Diamond magnet mount. Also, you won‘t need to worry about a ground plane. At least your coaxial cable run/cost will not be much.

Now I’m looking at cable. I’m not sure if this is what I need. Ham Radio Outlet has a “15 foot coax jumper uhf pl-259 male both ends LMR 400 cable” ?
 

lbpd16

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The X50A may fit. I would have to measure. Due to new construction requirements from 2017 the inside of my attic above the house was spray foam insulated and the ac unit is there also (large metal unit).

Now above my garage may work. No insulation was required so it’s just a normal non insulated shingle roof. I do have a bunch of crap stored so I would have to make some room.

Does it come with a base of some sort?

I just looked at Gigaparts, DX Engineering and Ham Radio Outlet. Seems the X50A is on back order at all 3. Boooooo. Anywhere else I may look?


Thanks for all the help. I’m sure I’ll have many more questions as I go along. Looking forward to getting powered up

Found a x50a at Walcott. Had it in stock with an additional 20% off coupon. Heading my way for $110 w/shipping.
 

mmckenna

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Does it come with a base of some sort?

Base antennas are usually designed to attach to a mast/pole of some type.

Since this will be indoors and not subject to sunlight or winds, you can use a length of PVC pipe, PVC conduit, EMT conduit, etc. Something like 1 1/4" or 1 1/2" will work fine. I have a small TV antenna installed in the rafters above my garage, and I just used a scrap length of PVC pipe. Drilled some holes for some screws to go through it into the rafters.
 

mmckenna

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Now I’m looking at cable. I’m not sure if this is what I need. Ham Radio Outlet has a “15 foot coax jumper uhf pl-259 male both ends LMR 400 cable” ?

LMR-400 will work fine.
However, it's pretty stiff cable and attaching it directly to the back of the radio will put a lot of strain on the antenna jack unless you support the cable very carefully. Industry standard is to use a short length of more flexible cable to make the final connection. It'll save damaging your new radio.
 

lbpd16

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LMR-400 will work fine.
However, it's pretty stiff cable and attaching it directly to the back of the radio will put a lot of strain on the antenna jack unless you support the cable very carefully. Industry standard is to use a short length of more flexible cable to make the final connection. It'll save damaging your new radio.
Ham Radio Outlet has a 1.5 foot cable. Says it’s Lmr400 “ultra flex”. Is that what I need or are there even shorter (and less pricey) cables specifically for what you mentioned?

And is “ultra flex” really that much more flexible?
 

mmckenna

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Ham Radio Outlet has a 1.5 foot cable. Says it’s Lmr400 “ultra flex”. Is that what I need or are there even shorter (and less pricey) cables specifically for what you mentioned?

And is “ultra flex” really that much more flexible?

I would use RG-58, personally. 1.5 feet is such a short run of cable, the difference in the amount of loss between that and higher grade cables is miniscule.
 

vagrant

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I used the Samlex 1223 for years with an HF and mobile connected and turned on simultaneously, not transmitting on both of course. I needed more overhead with other gear connected and later picked up a used Samlex 1235M (35 Amp) for cheap. You initially asked about just the mobile, but going with a 35 Amp power supply would provide overhead should you need it.

Oh wow, I just checked prices on an Astron RS-35A. I purchased one new in 2017 for $180 shipped from DX Engeering and the equivalent is now $323. I only use it once in a while with other gear for testing and mainly as a backup.

I use LMR-240UF for my pigtails/jumpers. Still, mmckenna's recommendation of RG-58 is fine and costs less.

Anyways, keeping that stuff indoors means it will outlast you.
 

lbpd16

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If you think I’ll be fine with the Samlex 1223 I’m gonna get it. I don’t foresee a base station so I’ll just be using mobiles as my base. Prices seem to go up considerably as the amps go up.

Only other thing I need to know about is programming and a cable. Is there a recommended programming cable? Should I use Chirp or the BTech software? I’m totally clueless about programming
 

lbpd16

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I used the Samlex 1223 for years with an HF and mobile connected and turned on simultaneously, not transmitting on both of course. I needed more overhead with other gear connected and later picked up a used Samlex 1235M (35 Amp) for cheap. You initially asked about just the mobile, but going with a 35 Amp power supply would provide overhead should you need it.

Oh wow, I just checked prices on an Astron RS-35A. I purchased one new in 2017 for $180 shipped from DX Engeering and the equivalent is now $323. I only use it once in a while with other gear for testing and mainly as a backup.

I use LMR-240UF for my pigtails/jumpers. Still, mmckenna's recommendation of RG-58 is fine and costs less.

Anyways, keeping that stuff indoors means it will outlast you.

Since your other recommendations were great ones can you also recommend and link a jumper cable for me. Just something short to connect the radio to the thicker radio antenna cable.

Thanks again for all your help
 

lbpd16

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Only other thing I need to know about is programming and a cable. Is there a recommended programming cable? Should I use Chirp or the BTech software? I’m totally clueless about programming
 
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